Eric Gryba is a big defender who makes life difficult for opposition skill. His penalty total raises eyebrows and he isn’t going to see power-play time, but the fancy stats have some positive things to say about him. The Edmonton Oilers like his experience, his size, wingspan and toughness. Eric Gryba is a veteran NHL defenseman. (Generator).

RE 17-18: 28GP, 1-2-3 (0.107)

You have him playing less. I’m guessing RHD will be occupied by Adam Larsson, Kris Russell and Matt Benning for much of the season. Gryba could certainly play more, this is my guess.

The analytics guys don’t appreciate what he brings.Travis Yost: “Eric Gryba legitimately improved last two years. Third pairing guy now. He can’t move the puck at all. he’s OK defensively though.”

That’s a backward compliment. It’s an astute observation and tells the reader about Gryba’s value. That value has him in the NHL. I don’t see your sorry ass in the NHL, so I guess Gryba’s got a few things on both of us.

He is popular in this city. Edmonton is a working man’s town, Gryba is a working man’s hockey player. He’s also a clever twitter follow. Fits in with most of Edmonton, nothing wrong with it.

Does Gryba block Mark Fayne? A little bit. It’s strange. I think the Oilers would run Fayne ahead of Gryba if necessary (every night), but Gryba is a better fit for them at 7D.

What does Gryba bring that Fayne doesn’t? Gryba is aggressive where Fayne is maybe a little passive. Wildly unfair to use that word for Fayne, who is a player I like, but that seems to be the issue.

Could he move into a regular job?I think it might prove to be too difficult. Todd McLellan usually picks heavy teams for Gryba, giving the smaller blue a breather. Gryba’s job is no walk in the park.

Who did he play well with? Darnell Nurse and Gryba played 288 minutes together, had a Corsi for 5×5 percentage of 51.6 against all forms of opposition. Nurse was 53.5 without, Gryba 47.3 without. Source

Anyone else? He and Brandon Davidson always played well together, they were 50.2 percent in 168 minutes together before the trade. Source

You don’t have him scoring much. One seeing-eye single and a couple of short passes to 97 in the defensive zone. Gryba means leather, Gryba doesn’t mean wood.

Peter Chiarelli signed him for two years? Makes sense. The Oilers may have some RHD pushing over the next two years and eventually one or more may pass Gryba. Until then, Edmonton has Gryba signed and ready.

So he’s holding off Ethan Bear? The young players wouldn’t be replacing Gryba, but could force Russell or another down the depth chart or off the roster. Gryba is an effective NHL veteran who holds the fort and makes the transition possible. That is a valuable player and sometimes organizations have a hard time finding them.

Why? Gryba has to be ready at a moment’s notice but could get scratched five minutes before a game he’s supposed to play. You need a very confident guy who is also a team player.

These guys usually make good coaches? True. Two-way centermen and defensive defensemen.

Is this the end of the defense RE? No.

Good grief! This is a marathon! One more blue, I’ll have it up Sunday night. Goalies begin tomorrow.

Why this song?I like the line “I’m the generator, firing when you quit” for Gryba.

RE 17-18 DEFENSE (SO FAR)

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Pretty much nailed it on Gryba. He’s kinda like Strudwick in that’s he’s a good 7D but a better defender imo. Also my opinion, players who are defensive d appear better on good teams. Anyways, I’d bet the over on 28 gp but under 40.

Ill never forget Gryba (as a senator) fanning on a clearing attempt that resulted in a series ending OT goal against, I think against MTL, the camera cuts immediately to Brian Murray (RIP) who clearly mouths the words “Fucking Gryba”

He then proceeded to trade him to Edmonton later that off-season…find the clip anyone?

Edit: it was game 2 OT winner scored by Galchenyuk…I can only find NBC footage that doesn’t show the GM reaction…

I’m going to politely disagree LT on his games played. I see him pushing up around 50 this year, with sekera out. He played 40 last year with minimal injuries, I see no reason why he won’t play more than that this year.

I think you’re a little hot on auvitu, but I know you like your puckmovers.

I’ll be honest, if we had Hamilton or Trouba on our top pairing, I would have all the time in the world for gryba as my number six guy. Every team needs to bring some sort of bigger physically imposing player on the backend. Unfortunately, his skills are duplicated by Larsson, and duplicated with better skills too.

stush18:
I’m going to politely disagree LT on his games played. I see him pushing up around 50 this year, with sekera out. He played 40 last year with minimal injuries, I see no reason why he won’t play more than that this year.

I think you’re a little hot on auvitu, but I know you like your puckmovers.

I’ll be honest, if we had Hamilton or Trouba on our top pairing, I would have all the time in the world for gryba as my number six guy. Every team needs to bring some sort of bigger physically imposing player on the backend. Unfortunately, his skills are duplicated by Larsson, and duplicated with better skills too.

Auvitu’s GP is a result (partly) of the injuries that Sekera and Nurse (as projected) will encounter according to the RE. I may be a little strong on Fayne though, that’s a fair criticism.

Also, I really think these players are interesting. Gryba actually performs very well with analytics. That’s a strong numbers against the elites, all though the minutes are lower. He does well in possession, and typically places very well on the PK in SA/60 if I’m not mistaken.

He obviously has slow boots, but as far as passing goes, I think we are completely under rating him.

He’s never going to stretch pass a guy for a quick break, but he breaks up cycles and makes a quick tape-to-tape outlet pass better than anyone but Larsson imo. Too many times I see the other defenders win the battle along the wall and send a quick chip along the boards up to the wingers. Gryba and Larsson seem to be very effective at separating the man, getting in front and blocking him, and then sending a quick ten foot pass to the centre up the middle.

I’m not sure if that is a size advantage that the other defenders can’t rely on, but they seem to be very good at it.

Lowetide: Auvitu’s GP is a result (partly) of the injuries that Sekera and Nurse (as projected) will encounter according to the RE. I may be a little strong on Fayne though, that’s a fair criticism.

It really depends on how long sekera is out for. Bit of a wildcard there?

Also, if I’ve done the math right, 11 games for the final dman (rhymes with Anton) is a little high imo. His skills are duplicated by gryba, and the team knows gryba better. The only way he gets into games is if gryba is injured imo

stush18: It really depends on how long sekera is out for. Bit of a wildcard there?

Also, if I’ve done the math right, 11 games for the final dman (rhymes with Anton) is a little high imo. His skills are duplicated by gryba, and the team knows gryba better. The only way he gets into games is if gryba is injured imo

That’s the great thing about projecting these numbers, we’ll see in a year. Both men would get PP time, may come down to lefty-righty.

I understand why people like Gryba as a personality. But this player type has been on the way out for a while. If you can’t skate well and you can’t move the puck well, you’re going to find yourself struggling in the speed game. I’d be a bit more gung ho about him if Edmonton had another proven puck mover or two already.

russ99:
You guys rail against Russell constantly, yet don’t see Gryba’s hand grenade throwout passes from the corner right to the opposition? Sheesh.

He’s a useful player, but I wanted a replacement this summer, a similar nasty checking man-on-man defender with better skating and passing, like a Gator Smith.

I don’t think there is a single poster that’s ever said that Gryba is better at hockey than Russell.

There is a big difference comparing (a) a d-man signed to $1M for two years to be the #7 guy and fill in on the third pairing and the PK as necessary and (b) a d-man signed to $4M for 4 years with a NMC that will be playing top 4 minutes.

Lynas1:
I understand why people like Gryba as a personality.But this player type has been on the way out for a while.If you can’t skate well and you can’t move the puck well, you’re going to find yourself struggling in the speed game.I’d be a bit more gung ho about him if Edmonton had another proven puck mover or two already.

I’m not sure anyone is “gung ho” about Eric Gryba but just happy to have him as a serviceable #7.